Weft detecting mechanism for drop box looms



J 1935- o. v. PAYNE I 2,004,342

WEET DETECTING MECHANISM FOR DROP Box Looms Filed July 16, 1934 S ShetS-Sheet 1 Snuefitor Qatar 0. Fauna 1 15.2 vfwtlqif y' Y I (lttorma s June 11, 1935. Q v Y E 2,004,342

WEFT DETECTING MECHANISM FOR DROP BOX LOOMS Filed July 16, 1954 v3 ISheets--Sheec 2 cqnuentor Gscam upax ne M fw Qttornegs June 11, 1935.

O. V. PAYNE WEFT DETECTING MECHANISM FOR DROP Box LOOMS I Filed July 16, 1934 3 Shets-Sheet 3 H I 5 (H a a? 5 8b 85 1 a,

2 a @33 5 Snuenoor 35 H5 Gscax UPagne Ma 7 W Qttornegs Patented June 11, 1935 UNITED STATES fpaooaaiz WEF'l. DETECTING MEcnAmsM FOR DROP ,BOX LOOMS- Oscar V. Payne, 'Worcester, Mass, assignor to Crompton & Knowles Loom Works, Worcester,

Mass}, a; corporation of Massachusetts I v .App licationfJuly ltr 1934, Serial No. 735.317

15 Claims. (c1.1a9--23a) s "This application is a continuationin part of my prior application Serial No. 614,393 filed by me May 31, 1932 and relating tothe same general subject matter. Y

This invention relates to devices for detecting substantial exhaustion of I Weft in a shuttle which isactive or about to become active in a multishuttle drop box loom. j The invention is particularly designed for use with loom stoppin'g mechanism but may be adapte d'to initiate weft replenishment.

It is the general object of my invention to provide improved and simplified means for giving an indication of substantial weft exhaustion for the shuttle which is active or about to become active, and for determining such shuttle without dependence on the pattern mechanism of the loom. 1 I

To the accomplishment of this object inthe preferred form, I providea separate weft detectcr for each shuttle, each permanently associated with its assigned shuttle box, and 'I permit all of said detectors to move to detecting a My invention further relates to arrangements and combinations of parts which will be herein after described ahd'more particularly pointed out in the appendedclaims.

A preferred form of the inventionjis shown in the drawings; in which v p s Fig. 1 is a front elevation of portions of a loom having my improved "detecting mechanism applied thereto Fig. 2 ,is aplan View of the parts shownin;

Fig. 1; l g i s a s 3 s Fig. 3 is1 a'detail sectional plan view, :taken along the line 3-3 inFig. 1; l

:Fig. 4 is an end elevation, looking in the direction of the arrowl in Fig. l; I i 3 Figs. 5. and 6 are detail sectional front-eleva-.

tions, taken along the lines 55 and 66 Fig 4 respectively; 1

Fig. '7 is a detail sectionalplan the line 1-1 in Fig. 4;

1 in Figs. 2,, 11 and 12.

view, taken along 8 is a diagrammatic view showing the. elec-. trical circuit and connections ;j

Fig. 9 is as'ectional side elevation of a setting device, taken along'the line 9 a in Fig. 2; 3

Figs. 10, 11 and 12 are diagrammatic plan views showing the method of operation of the invention; Fig. 13 is a plan view of a'contact member to be described, and r 1. Fig. '14 is a: partial sectionalelevation thereof,

taken along the line=l4 l4.in Fig. 13.

PATENTOFFICE f Referring to the drawingsyIyhav'e shown portions of a drop, box loom including': a loom side l5and a rock shaft '16 :(Fig.'.4) upon which a lay is mounted in the usual manner. .The lay is pro-. vided with alay end I'I fixed thereto and having vertical guideways" 18 (Fig, 2). for aset of drop boxes. ZOyuindicated Fig; 4 as. comprising four compartments adapted. toreceive four superposed shuttles SQ l I The drop boxes!!! are mounted on; the upper end in a bearing 23 on a bracket or stand 24secured to the end of the rock shaft It. The lifter rod 22 and drop boxes are moved vertically by a chain?! controlled by suitable pattern and boxshiftirigmechanism not shown. i

l The parts thusfar described are or may be of theusual commercial type" and in-themselves form no partofmy'present invention. Y s 'I provide a frame member or stand 30 (Figs. 1 and 4'lsecuredbyb0lts 3l (Fig.1) to upper and lower portions of the drop box structure 20.

A frame member 32 is secured to the frontof the stand 30 and is provided with fourlaterally projecting arms or supports'33 (Fig. 1) on each of' whicha we'ft detecting device is mounted.

Each detecting device comprises a casing 35 (Fig.2) adapted to be secured to one of the arms or supports 33above described, and each detecting devicehas a slide 36 (Fig. 11) -mounted in suitable guideways inits casing 35;

A detector. 31 is pivoted at 38 oneach slide 36 and is limited in movement relative thereto in one direction by a stop pin 39. A spring 40 yieldingly holds the detector 31in the position shown When the detector 31 engages a bobbin having a sufiicient supplyo'f weft thereon, the'detector is held thereby from side slipping movement and is pushed directly forward by the lay, thereby moving the slide 36 along itsguideways in the casing 35 but without any turning movement of the detector-31. i

If, however, the supply is substantially exhausted," the detector31 will b: weft on the bobbin- 20" end of. a lifter rodf22 (Fig. 4) guidedat its lower i til slide along the butt of the bobbin, moving to the position indicated in Fig. 10. This causes a forwardly extending portion 4| of the detector 3'! to swing outward, during which movement it engages a setting device 42 forming part of an electrical circuit which controls the stopping of the loom.

The setting device 42 (Figs. 9 and 10) is pivoted on studs 43 mounted in upperand lower portions of a U-shaped supporting plate 44 (Figs. 1 and 9), which plate is clamped beneath or secured to the associated casing 35 and is held in fixed position relative thereto.

A spring 45 is connected at one end to a stud 56 on the plate 4 3 and at the other end to the inside of the setting device 42 at the free end thereof. The device 42 is also provided with wing portions 4i and 58 at its free end. The wing d1 normally engages the side of the casing 35 as a stop or abutment, as shown in Fig. 12, and is thus positioned for engagement (by the part 4i of the feeler 3'! when the feeler side-slips to the position shown'in Fig. 10. When'thus engaged, the setting device 42 is swung'to the right, as viewed in Fig.- 10, and this movement'is continued by the spring 45 as soon as the device 42 passes its dead ce'nteriwith respect to "the studs 43 and 46.

The final or operative position of thesetting device 62is determined by-engagement of the device with the outer end portion of the 1U- shaped supporting plate 44 (Fig. 1), this position being alsoindicated in Figs. 10 and'l 1. With thisconstruction, the setting device 42,. having been moved to the indicating position shown in Fig. 10v byside-slipping of the feeler. 31, will then remainin indicating position, even after thereturn of the feeler 31 to the normal position shown in Fig. 11.

' It is necessary that the weft detectors should be normally withdrawn forwardly out of the path of the vertically shifting shuttle boxes and for this purpose I provide special mechanisin shown in detail in Figs; 1 to 5. i

I provide each detector slide 36 with an offset end portion (Fig. 2) positioned for engagee ment by an upright'rod 5| (Fig. 1) mounted in arms 52 secured to a rock shaft 53. The shaft 53 is rotatable in a bearing 54 (Fig. 1) formed at the outer end of an arm 55 (Fig. 2) preferably integral with the stand 32 previouslyv described;

At its lower end the rock shaft 53 (Fig. 5) is secured to asplined sleeve Gllslidable axially in a similarly splined bushing 6| ,(Figs. 5 and 7).

The bushing 61 is rotatable in -a bearing 62- and is provided with an offset projection 56 supporting a cam rollfil positioned to engage a cam plate 68. The plate 88 (Fig. '1) is mounted on a bracket 59 secured to the loom framel5;

A plunger '53 (Fig. 3) is pivoted at II to the V outer end of the arm and extends through a" bearing i2 depending from the bracket '63 (Fig. 1) which is fixed to the lay end IT. A coil spring '53 is mounted onthe' plunger 10. between the bearing 12 and a collar 14 fixed on the plunger 10, the spring acting to yieldingly force the 'cani roll 5? against the cam plate 68.

The cam plate 58 has an inclined portion 75,, a

raised portion '16 and a depressed portion H: As the: lay moves rearward from front center, the

roll 61 will be'engaged'by the inclined cam.por

tion 15, shifting the arm 65 from the position shown in Fig. 10 to the position shown in Fig. 11,

and correspondingly shifting the arms 52 and upright rod 5i, thus Withdrawing the feelers 3? from the drop boxes.

As the lay thereafter again approaches front center from the rear, the spring l3 will cause the roll 61 to move downward along the inclined portion 15 to the depressed cam portion ll, again permitting the feelers to enter the drop "boxes and shuttles.

It is essential that the drop boxes should have approached closely to picking position before the electrical circuit is completed, as otherwise ,an indication may be given for a shuttel not in active position .or about to become active. Consequently I have provided a special contact -member for closing the circuit following indica- The link 82 is preferably formed in two parts 7 connected by a sleeve 35 of insulating material for a purpose to be described.

1 A coil spring 8'! (Fig. 12) is mounted between a collar 88 on the link 82 and a portion'85 (Fig. l) of the bracket 63, thereby causing the roll 88 to yieldingly engage the cam platett.

The upright shaft (Fig. 6) is supported in insulating bushings 96 and Si in the ends of a tube 92 fixed in 'a bracket 93 (Fig. l) secured to the bracket 63 previously described.

A contact member 96 (Fig. 13) is secured to the upper end of the shaft 85 and is provided with a contact portion (Fig. 13) which is segmental in'plan and which hasthe vertical section shown 7 in Fig. 14, the upper and lower edge portions being rearwardlyinclined or beveled.

' As the shaft 85 is oscillated by the cam plate 68 through the cam roll 85, arm it, link 82 and arm 84, the contact portion 95 of the member 94 engages the setting device 42 which is associated with the shuttle which is'substantially in active position, provided said device has been moved to operative position by the associated detector 37. It will be'noted that the armlld (Fig. l) is fixed vertically relatively to the lay end ll, while the setting devices 42 are shifted vertically with the shifting of the drop boxes. Swinging movement of the armfl i not only completes the electrical circuit to be described, butalso restores the device 42 to the normal inoperative position shown in Figs. 2 and 12. The beveled faces of the contact portionv 95 of the member 94 assist in the resetting operation.

The circuit thus completed may be utilized to put in operation any usual electrical control device forstopping the loom or effecting weft replenishment. In-Fig. 8 I have indicated diagrammatically a well-known mechanism for stopping a loom.

which is connectedthrough a wire let to a solenoid coili'liH, which'in turn is connectedthrough a switch H12 and wire lbs to the arm 54' (Figs. 1 and 6) at the lower end of the upright shaft 65.

The shaft 85 is electrically connected through I have shown abattery B, one side of which is grounded at G and the other side of usual top or crank shaft I08 of the 100111.

The arm I is pivoted toa lever H0 mounted ona fixed pivot I II andconnected by a link I I2 to the usual knock-off lever I I 3' of the lo'om When the arm I95 is raised by the solenoid piun ger,it is temporarily retained in raised position by a latch I I5. 'I'heupperend of the lever I I0 is conhected to the switch I02 in the magnet circuit; I r

v a The" operation ofthis loo mstopping mechanism is as follows? The arm' I05 is normally in lowered position outof the path of the *actuatinglever I 06 and with the latch -I I5 inoperative. when the segmentalportion 95 engages "a setting device 42 which is in operative position, the circuit is completed, the solenoid is energized, the arm I05 is i raised, the lever H0 is pushed to the righton the next actuation of the lever I05 and the knock-off lever lllsis actuated to stop the loom. I

At the same time the switch IE2 is withdrawn, thus breaking the circuitpreviously described, andfthe circuit remains broken until theknockor lever is returned to running position.

The, timing of the several ,movernents -may be substantially varied but is in general as follows Each detector 31 engages its bobbin asthe lay approaches front vcenter and in.case of a sub:

stantially exhausted bobbin, the parts moveto the position shown in Fig..10"approximately at front center, thesetting device 42. thereafter remaining in positiontocornplete anindication, as shoWninFig. 11. v I V i [As the lay starts rearwardfrom front center the boxes are shifted, and the roll 6! is actuated by the cam plate 68near the beginning of the backward stroke to'cause forward withdrawal of the detectors 3! fromthe shuttle boxes, thus avoiding interference with the picking of any shuttle. l

Thereafter and at some, point between front centerand top center the roll is actuated by the cam plate 68, swinging the contact portion of the member 94 against the setting device 42, thus completing the solenoid circuit andalso re-setting the device 42.

The arm I05 is raised by the solenoid and is thereafter held in raised position by the latch II 5 until the lay reaches approximate back center, at

which point the cam I91 and lever I06 operate to stop theloorn. o

By the provision of the setting device 42 and the further provision of the latch H5, I avoid the necessity of close timing of the movements of the various parts, and I am able to use a cam plate 58 having an easy and gradual inclined portion 75. This enables me to move the contact portion 95 relatively slowly past the setting device 42, thus affording ample time for energizing the solenoid coil IIlI.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do not wish to belimited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as a set forth in the claims, but what I claim is:

1. In a loom having a plurality of drop boxes,

in combination, a plurality of weftdetectors each box, astand for said detectors movableiwith'said boxes, detector-withdrawing means to separately engage each of said detectors and to move each detector forward relatively: to said stand to inoperative position during eachloom cycle, means to release all of said detectors at'a predetermined point in said loom cyclefor*independentrearward movementto detecting position, and means through which the detector associated with the shuttleaboutto be picked may complete anin-l dication of substantial weft exhaustion.

2 In a loom having a plurality of drop boxes,.in combination, a stand mounted on the lay and connectedto move at all times in unison with said boxes, thepaths of movement of said stand vand boxes being at all times parallel, a separate weft detector mounted on said stand opposite" each drop box, means to simultaneously withdraw all of said detectors relative tosaid stand from op erative positionduringamajor portionof each loom cycle and to thereafter permit said detectors to bemoved to detecting position, and means to indicate substantial weft exhaustion for that shuttle only which is about to be picked.

3. In a loom having a plurality "of 'drop boxes,

in combination, a separate side-slipping weft detector permanently associated with each drop box, and means to simultaneously withdraw all ofsaid weft detectors from operative position for a major 'portionof each loom cycle, said means comprising a fixedcam plate-having raised anddepressed:

portions and a cooperating cam follower mounted to swing with the lay said weft detectors: 3

4. In a looin having a plurality of drop boxes, in combination,a plurality of weft detectors each permanently associated with a particular drop box, a settingdevice for each detector movable to operative position when its detector indicates substantial weft exhaustion in a shuttle, means to hold said setting device in operative position after said detector is disengaged from theweft in the indicated shuttle, and a single contact member positioned to thereafter engage one of said setting devices but only when said setting device is in operative position and is associated with an indicated shuttle about to be picked, such engagement of said setting device effecting stopping of the loom.

6. In a loom having a plurality of drop boxes,

in combination, a plurality of weft detectors each permanently associated with a particular-drop box, a setting device for each detector movable to operative position when its detector indicates substantial weft exhaustion in a shuttle, means to hold said setting device in operative position, and

a single contact member positioned to thereafter engage one of said setting devices but only when said setting device is in operativeposition and is I associated with an indicated shuttle about to be picked, such engagement of said setting device effecting stopping of the loom and also returning said setting device to initial inoperative position.

and connected to withdraw,

' 7. In a loom having a plurality of drop boxes, in combination, a plurality of weft detectors each permanently associated with a particular drop box, a stand for said detectors movable with said boxes, detector-withdrawing means to separately engage each of said detectors and to move each detector forward relatively to said stand to inoperative position during each loom cycle, means to release all of said detectors at a predetermined point in said loom cycle for independent rearward movement to detecting position, a setting device for each detector movable thereby to operativeposition when its detector indicates substantial weft exhaustion in a shuttle, means to hold said setting device in operative position, and means to thereafter engage said setting device and thereby eifect stopping of the loom.

8. The combination in a loom as set forth in claim 7,,in which a single cam device is provided to actuate said detector-withdrawing means and said setting device-engaging means.

9. The combination in a loom as set forth in claim 7, in which a single cam device is provided to actuate said detector-withdrawing means and said setting-device-engaging means in predetermined timed relation.

, 10. The combination in a loom as set forth in claim 7, in which a single cam device is provided to actuate said detector-withdrawing means and said setting-device-engaging means, said withdrawing means being actuated before said setting device is engaged.

11. The combination in a loom as set forth in claim 7, in which said detector-withdrawing means and said setting-device-engaging means are each provided with a cam follower, and in which a single fixed cam is successively engaged by said two cam followers.

, 12. In a loom having a plurality of drop boxes, in combination, a plurality of weft detectors each permanently associated with a particular drop box, a setting device for each detector movable to operative position when its detector indicates substantial weft exhaustion in a shuttle, means to hold said setting device in operative "position, means to thereafter engage said setting device when the. indicated shuttle is about to be picked and to thereby effect stopping of the loom, and a fixed cam device to actuate said setting-device-- engaging means.

13. In a loom having a plurality of drop boxes, in combination, a plurality of weft detectors each permanently associated With a particular drop 'box, a setting device for each detector movable the loom and simultaneous return of saidsetting box, a setting device for each detector movable to operative position when its detector indicatessubstantial weft exhaustion in a shuttle, means to hold said setting device in operative position, means to thereafter engage'said setting device when the indicated shuttle is about to be-picked and to thereby effect stopping of the loom and return of said setting device to normal inoperativev position and a single spring yieldingly holding said setting device in either operative or inop-- erative position. i 15. In a loom having permanently associated with a particulardrop box, a separate setting device for each detector effective to store an indication of weft exhaustion by its detector after disengagement thereof from the weft .in the indicated shuttle, and means to complete the indication by engagementof said setting device by said means and to thereby stop the loom when the indicated shuttle is next about to be picked.

- OSCAR V. PAYNE.

a plurality of drop boxes, 7 in combination, a plurality of weft detectors each 7 

